The Portugal Post Latest Portugal News Amp Stories

Can a solar-wind system meet future energy demands?

Accelerating energy transition towards renewables is central to net-zero emissions. However, building a global power system dominated by solar and wind energy presents immense challenges. Here, we demonstrate the potential of a globally interconnected solar-wind system to meet future electricity demands.

Which energy storage projects have been approved by state regulators?

Energy Dome and Alliant Energy's 200MWh long-duration energy storage (LDES) project in Wisconsin, US, has been approved by state regulators. The Ministers of Energy and the Environment in Lithuania have approved an additional €37 million (US$43 million) for an energy storage capex grant scheme, while Trina Storage has secured orders in the country.

How does solar-wind generation affect the cost of a solar system?

High penetration of solar-wind generation is invariably associated with increased curtailments and system-wide costs, with pronounced marginal cost effects. For instance, the cost increase required to raise penetration from 78% to 80% is more than four times that of raising it from 72% to 75%.

What are the biggest solar and storage projects in the US?

One of the biggest solar and storage projects underway in the U.S. is Longroad Energy's Sun Streams Complex in Arizona, totaling 973 MW of solar and 600 MW/2.4 GWh of battery storage capacity. After the first two phases began operations in 2021 and 2024, the fourth and largest project is underway with 377 MW of solar and 300 MW/1.2 GWh of storage.

What happens if solar-wind generation exceeds net power demand?

When solar-wind generation within a grid exceeds its net power demand (i.e., total demand minus baseload), surplus power is first transferred to interconnected grids experiencing shortages, with the remaining surplus stored until capacity is reached. Any surplus beyond storage capacity is curtailed.

How much does a solar-wind power outage affect electricity supply?

Under the S-G scenario, the decline in solar-wind electricity supply caused by the complete outage of a single regional grid averages only 2.6% (ranging from 0.7% to 11.7%), compared to declines of 5.8%, 15.1%, and 26.4% under the S-C, S-A, and S-I scenarios, respectively (Fig. 4b).

Can photovoltaics be used in greenhouses?

The integration of photovoltaics (PV) into greenhouses is analyzed. Greenhouse energy demands, PV performances and effects on crop growth are reported. The application of organic, dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells is described. The new PV technologies can promote sustainable, self-powered and smart greenhouses.

What is a greenhouse integrated PV (gipv) module?

Get in touch! Traditional greenhouses rely on external fossil fuel derived energy sources to power lighting, heating and forced cooling. Specially designed BiPV solar glass modules for greenhouses, Heliene's Greenhouse Integrated PV (GiPV) modules offer a sustainable alternative with no additional racking or support required.

Why should you choose a Richel Photovoltaic greenhouse?

Opting for Richel photovoltaic greenhouses provides the combined benefits of photovoltaic energy production (lower energy costs, additional income generation, low environmental impact through green energy production) and the advantages of greenhouses (protection against weather, better crop precocity, etc.).

Are solar greenhouses a viable alternative to horticultural production?

Solar greenhouses currently constitute the most energy-intensive branch of agriculture; the energy inputs (fuels and electricity) to meet the heat needs of greenhouses have a major impact on the cost and environmental sustainability of horticultural and floricultural production.

How can PV technology improve the sustainability of greenhouses?

The new PV technologies can promote sustainable, self-powered and smart greenhouses. Reducing the energy demand and dependency on fossil fuels is crucial for improving the sustainability of greenhouses, which are the most energy intensive systems in the agricultural sector.

Do solar greenhouses perform well under different climate scenarios?

Solar greenhouses are currently the most energy-intensive agricultural sector. In literature, there is no worldwide mapping of solar greenhouse performance under different climate scenarios. This study analyzes the performance of a Venlo solar greenhouse for 48 localities around the world.

Does Scatec have a solar-plus-storage site in South Africa?

Scatec's Kenhardt solar-plus-storage site in South Africa (above), which went online at the end of 2023. Image: Scatec. Africa's energy storage market has seen a boom since 2017, having risen from just 31MWh to 1,600MWh in 2024, according to trade body AFSIA Solar's latest report.

What are the most popular solar-plus-storage developments in Africa?

As noted by AFSIA Solar, one of the most notable solar-plus-storage developments in Africa is Norway-based independent power producer (IPP) Scatec's 225MW/1,140MWh Kenhardt project in South Africa. The site started operation in late 2023 (pictured above).

How has energy storage changed in 2022?

This has resulted in an increase in energy storage levels in recent years. In 2022, the continent had around 50MWh of energy storage capacity installed. Since then, energy storage capacity tripled in 2023 and then experienced another 10-fold increase in 2024. Image: AFSIA Solar.

Will Africa's development pipeline slow down?

Image: AFSIA Solar. According to AFSIA Solar, this upward trajectory is not expected to slow down in the near future either. The trade body has identified a development pipeline exceeding 18GWh across Africa.

How much does a battery storage system cost?

Around the beginning of this year, BloombergNEF (BNEF) released its annual Battery Storage System Cost Survey, which found that global average turnkey energy storage system prices had fallen 40% from 2023 numbers to US$165/kWh in 2024.

Will lithium-ion battery prices decline over the next decade?

Further price declines are expected over the next decade. Battery prices saw their biggest annual drop since 2017, with lithium-ion battery pack prices down by 20% from 2023 to a record low of $115/kWh, according to analysis by BloombergNEF (BNEF).

What happened to battery prices in 2024?

New York, December 10, 2024 – Battery prices saw their biggest annual drop since 2017. Lithium-ion battery pack prices dropped 20% from 2023 to a record low of $115 per kilowatt-hour, according to analysis by research provider BloombergNEF (BNEF).

How much demand for lithium-ion batteries in 2024?

That is more than 2.5 times annual demand for lithium-ion batteries in 2024, according to BNEF. “The price drop for battery cells this year was greater compared with that seen in battery metal prices, indicating that margins for battery manufacturers are being squeezed.

Are battery electricity storage systems a good investment?

This study shows that battery electricity storage systems offer enormous deployment and cost-reduction potential. By 2030, total installed costs could fall between 50% and 60% (and battery cell costs by even more), driven by optimisation of manufacturing facilities, combined with better combinations and reduced use of materials.

What happened to battery energy storage systems in Germany?

Small-scale lithium-ion residential battery systems in the German market suggest that between 2014 and 2020, battery energy storage systems (BESS) prices fell by 71%, to USD 776/kWh.